Warwick, Kevin (1954– )

British computer scientist, with an interest in artificial intelligence and cybernetics.

Warwick worked for BT for six years, before taking his first degree at Aston University. Subsequently, he gained a PhD and became a research student at Imperial College, London. He held positions at Oxford, Newcastle, and Warwick universities, before becoming Professor of Cybernetics at the University of Reading.

Warwick's work at Reading includes research into artificial intelligence, control, and robotics. He forecast in 1997 that in 10 to 50 years' time, robots would exist that were more intelligent than human beings.

Warwick had a chip implanted in his arm for nine days in 1998, linked to devices in his departmental building. In 2000 he and his wife Irena both had chips implanted into their arms, connected to an external computer. He hoped that the computer would be able to read emotions such as pain, anger, and joy, and that he and his wife would be able to communicate their thoughts to each other electronically via the Internet.